Automatic phonograph mechanism



July 14, 1953 Filed Oct. 7, 1946 FIG.2

FIGS

J. M. BAXTER AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4.JOSEPH INVENTOR M. BAXTER Q L BY 411W ATTORNEY July 14, 1953 J. M. BAXTER AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCT.. 7. 194@l MGI ATTORNEY July 14, 1953 J, M, BAXTER 2,645,496

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH MECHANISM Filed OCT.. 7, 194 6 4 :Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Patented July 1.4, 17953 AUTOMATIC PHON OGRAPH MECHANISM Joseph M. Baxter, Fort Wayne, Ind., assgnor, by mesne assignments, to Farnsworth Research Corporation, a `corporation of Indiana Application October 7, 1946, Serial No. 701,809

10 claims. l

This invention relates generally to automatic phonographs and more particularly to an irnproved record-changing cycle control mechanism for automatic phonographs.

Conventional automatic phonographs, particularly those of the drop-type, include a changecycle control mechanism consisting of a rotatable cam having a plurality of control surfaces, each of which is adapted to control a particular part of the phonograph mechanism during each recordchanging cycle. For example, one cam surface may be adapted to elevate and lower the tone arm, another surface may be adapted to swing the tone arm in and out with respect to the record, while still another surface may be adapted to operate a record-moving mechanism for releasing a record to the turntable. Cams of this nature are customarily designed to rotate only during the record-changing cycle. They necessarily require extremely accurate processes of formation during their manufacture as they must be formed to close tolerances in order accurately to time and control the movements of the tone arm and the record-moving mechanism during a record-changing cycle.

For cooperating with control cams of the type described hereinbefore, there are usually provided mechanical linkages consisting of levers adapted to operate the tone arm and the record-ejecting mechanism. As in the case of the control cam,

the levers must also be manufactured to close tolerances whereby the cost of manufacture is unnecessarily high.

Because of the fact that conventional changecycle control mechanisms are complicated, and because such close tolerances are required, mechanisms of this type are subject to damage during shipment in commerce and require frequent adjustment during normal use. Thus considerable expense is incurred both by the manufacturer and by the ultimate user of the mechanism because of its inherent complexity and fragility.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel change-cycle control mechanism for automatic phonographs which is of simple, rugged and inexpensive construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel change-cycle control mechanism for automatic phonographs consisting substantially of a single movable cam member adapted directly to control the movements of the tone arm and the record-moving mechanism.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided in combination with a turntable, a tone arm and a record magazine for supporting large or small records, a unitary movable change-cycle control member including means for positioning a tone arm over the starting groove of either a small or large record, a trip means responsive to the tone arm for actuating the control member and a means for operating a record-moving mechanism to move one record after another to the turntable for reproduction.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan View o f the phonograph with the unplayed records removed from the supporting spindle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the phonograph;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. V4 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on lines 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing in detail the record-moving mechanism and record-supporting means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the clutch mechanism taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a detailed fragmentary view, taken on lines i-l of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the change-cycle control mechanism and its association with the driving means and the trip mechanism.

' Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an automatic phonograph apparatus consisting of a base plate l upon which is rotatably mounted a turntable 2 for supporting a record 3. The turntable is driven in conventional fashion by a motor 4 secured to the underside of the base plate l by studs 5--5. The motor shaft 5 is provided with a friction wheel 'l which rotatably engages a wheel 8 mounted on the base plate. The wheel B frictionally engages the inner periphery of the rim of the turntable to drive it.

Rotatably mounted with the turntable and extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom is a tubular, spindle sleeve 9 for centering and holding a record on the turntable. The sleeve $3 is journaled in the bracket I l secured to the underside of the base plate (Fig. 2).

A record-supporting spindle I3 upon which a plurality of unplayed records 3 may be stacked for reproduction is removably mounted as at l2 to the bracket I l and extends upwardly through the sleeve 9. Spindle i3 may be beveled as at i3 and project through the natsided aperture I2 in bracket II, thereby to be removable and insertable in fixed relation to the turntable.

The upper portion of spindle I3 is oiset with respect to the lower portion thereof to provide a shoulder I4 for engaging the peripheral edges of the centeringaperture of the lowermost record in the stack. rEhe spindle is also provided with a notched portion I5 adapted to allow lateral movementL of the lowermost record in the stack when the record-moving mechanism is operated.

Adjacent the turntable' there is mounted, for horizontal and vertical movement on the standard I5, a tone arm I'I having at its outer end a reproducer I8 carrying a stylus I9 which is adapted to track the record 3. The tone arm is pivoted as at 2l upon a bracket 22 which is secured to the upper end of a vertical rotatable sleeve 23 jcurnaled in the standard I6. Slidably mounted in the sleeve 23 is a .pin 24, the upper end oi which is adapted to engage the tone arm,

ythe lower end being operatively arranged in the of Harvey C. Habegger, Serial No. 541,131, led

June 19, 1944. There follows a general description of the mechanism. Rotatably mounted in the standard I is a sleeve 25 having secured at its upper end a horizontal record-support 26. The oppositely disposed shelf portions 2l and 28 thereof are adapted to project beneath the peripheral edge of the lowermost record in a stack The lower end of the sleeve 25 is provided with a cam surface 25A which, when rotated, is adapted to actuate a pin 29. When the Support 25 is rotated into position to support a 10- inch record, the pin 29 is cammed downwardly into the path of movement of the control mechanism 5IY thereby to position the tone arm over the starting groove of a lO-inch record.

Upon rotating the support 25 into position to support a lZ-inch record, the cam surface 25A permits the pin 29 to move upwardly away from the control-element 5I under the influence of the biasing spring SI operatively mounted thereon. When the pin 29 is in this position, the control mechanism 5I is controlled to position the tone arm over the starting groove of a 12-inch record as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Journaled in the standard I6 is a shaft 32 for pivotally mounting a record-ejecting lever 33, the lower end 30 of which is arranged to be engaged by the control mechanism 5I to pivot the upper end 34 thereof into engagement with a recordejecting plate 35 slidably mounted on the support 26. rIhe plate 35, upon actuation, engages the edge of a record and moves it off the shelf 21 or the shelf 28 and off the shoulder I4 of the spindle I3 to allow the record to gravitate down the spindle to the turntable for reproduction. The lever 33 is biased by spring 40 for returning the plate 35 to its normal position after it has moved a record off either of the shelf portions 2'! or 28.

Means are provided to steady the records 3 on the spindle I3 and the support 25.. Secured to the support 26 is a bracket 4I upon which is' pivotally mounted, as at 42, a lever 3l, the outer end of which is adapted to engage the topmost record in the record stack. Secured at one end, as at 43, to the bracket II is a spring 38, the opposite end of which is xed as at 44 to one side of the center of the lever 3l. This arrangement of spring 33 biases the lever 31 downwardly and allows it to be pivoted in either direction to resiliently engage and hold the records on either of the record-supporting shelves 2'I, 28 of the support 26.

For operating the record-ejecting and the tone arm moving mechanisms, there is provided bcneath the base plate a unitary change-cycle control element 5 I. Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is provided a vertical stud 52 in fixed relation to the base plate, the lower end of which is adapted to engage an elongated slot 53 formed in the base portion of the element 5l. A screw 5l in stud 52 retains the element 5I in horizontal slideable relation to the base plate.

Formed in the base portion of the element 5I there is an internal gear rack 5S having rack portions A, B, C, and D which are disposed to engage a pinion gear 54 secured to the lower end of the continuously rotating turntable shaft 9. The gear rack has a breached portion 56, the purpose of which is to break the driving connection between the gear rack and the pinion during the playing cycle of a record. It will be evident that when a driving connection is made between said rack and pinion, the element 5I is reciprocated and rotated from the normal full-line position through the dotted-line positions E, F and G, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. One complete reciprocation of the control element defines one record-changing cycle.

For controlling the upward vertical movement of the tone arm, there is provided in the base portion of the element 5| a cam surface E I. During the change cycle, when the element 5I is reciprocated to the dotteddine position E, the surface 5I engages the tone-arm elevating pin 24 to lift the tone arm oir" the reproduced record.

Cooperating with the cam surface 6I, there is provided as an integral part of the element 5I an extension 62. During the change cycle, when the section C' of the gear rack is in engagement with the pinion 54, the element 5I isreciprocated to the dotted-line position G, whereupon the eX- tension 62 intercepts the pin 24 and maintains the tone arm in its elevated position. Extension 62 includes a downwardly extending cam surface 62A for lowering pin 24.

Adjacent the element 62 and cam surface 52A, there is formed in the base portion an elongated slot 53. During the change cycle, when the section D of the gear rack is engaged by the pinion, the element 5I is pivoted from the dotted-line position G to its full-line position, and the extension 62 disengages from the pin 24 and cam surface 62A allows the pin to slide into the slot 53 to lower the tone arm on the newly dropped record.

Formed in the base portion of the element 5I, there is an aperture 55 having a pair of oppositely facing tone-arm control surfaces 65, 51. These surfaces are adapted to actuate the tone arm by engaging a downwardly projecting pin 69 aixed to the free end oi' the tone-arm control lever 'II. The opposite end of the lever 'II is attached, by means of a flanged clamp l2, to the tone-arm shaft 23 to move therewith.

Assuming that a l2-inch record is being played,

the tone arm in tracking the playing Vgmoves of the record moves the lever- 1| from its full-line position to the dotted-line position I-I. When the lever is in this position, the record-changing cycle starts as will be described hereinafter. At the start of the change cycle, when the section A of the gear rack is driven by the pinion,v the surface 55 engages the pin 65: on lever 1| to swing the tone arm beyond the edge Vof the record. Member 5|v moves to position E` and the lever'H assumes position I. position F to position G, whereupon the surface Si engages the lever 'il and moves the tone arm to a point over lthe starting groove of a 12-inch record whereby the lever il resumes the full-line position. It is to be observed that the aperture 65 permits free movement of the pin B5 during the reproduction of a record.

Projecting out of the plane of the body portion of the element 5| is a record-ejecting cam surface l5, the function of which is to actuate the end portion 30 of the record-ejecting member 33. During the change cycle, when the element '5| is reciprocated to position E, the cam-I element 'i5 is moved therewith to a point adjacent the end 30 of member 33. When the section B of the gear rack is driven by the pinion gear 58, the element 5| is pivoted to position F whereupon the cam element l5 engages and moves the ejecting-member 33 to operate the ejecting mechanism to release a record to the turntable.

Pivctally mounted on the control element 5| adjacent the aperture 55 is a lever 8| having arms 02 and S3. Aiiixed at one of its ends to the arm 82, as at 84, is a biasing spring 85 having its opposite end secured as at 86 to the control element 5|. The spring 35 normally biases the lever 8| into engagement with the stop 31 fixed to the element 5 l. When the record support 25 is pivoted to support l-inch records, the pin 29 is depressed downwardly into the path of movement of the lever 0|. During the change cycle, when the cam element is in position F, the section C of the gear rack engages the pinion-and moves the element to position G. During this movement, the arm 82 of the lever 3| engages the pin 29. The arm 83 is then pivoted into the path of the tonearm lever 'il whereupon arm 83 instead of surface 51 engages lever li and moves it in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1l) to position the tone arm over the starting groove of a lO-inch record. It is to be observed that the arm 83 of the lever 0| pivots the lever 'H a greater distance inwardly than the aperture surface 61.

For urging the gear rack 50 into mesh with the pinion, there is provided a guide means consisting of a cam 5| (Fig. 3) aixed to the lower ends of a pair of studs 92 and 93 depending from the base plate l. Affixed to the element 5| is a cam follower 95 which bears on the cam 9i during the movement of element 5 I. For example, when element 5| moves from its normal position through positions E, F and G, cam follower 94 moves over surfaces 9|E, SiF and 9|G thereby to counteract the lateral forces applied to element 5| by pinion 54.

Trip means are provided to cause the gear rack 50 and the pinion 54 to mesh and operate the change-cycle control element. This means comprises a clutch mechanism |00 (Fig. 6) including a flanged sleeve |0| rred to the lower end of the tubular tone-arm shaft 23 to rotate therewith. Mounted on the sleeve |0| is a pair of fiber, cork, or the like, discs |02 and |03 between which is disposed in frictional engagement one end of an Element 5i is then reciprooated throughA actuating lever |05. A spring washer lis arranged between the disc |103 and a flanged collar |01 fixed to the upper end of the sleeve |104.

The free end of the actuating lever |05 is adapted to engage an upturned shoulder I08A (Fig. '7) on the tripping lever |08 which is pivotally mounted as -at |09 to the control element 5l. For preventing'free movement of lever |08, it isbiased into frictional engagement with element 5| by `a leaf spring `During each revolution ofthe turntable, a projection I I2 on shaft 9 rotates and contacts the lever |08 as at |I5. Upon contact, the lever |08 is pivoted into engagement with and reverses the movement of lever |05 which is normally rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) by clutch |00 as the tone arm tracks the playing groove of the record. Thus, during each revolution of the turntable, levers 05 and |08 are moved away from pinion 54. However, when the tone arm reaches the trippinggroove of a record, the tripping ylever |05 is rotated ata rate faster than normal to rotate the lever |08 andY cause the shoulder portion ||6 thereof positively to engage the projection ||2. The element 5| is then kicked forwardly to cause the gear rack 50 to mesh with the pinion 54 and initiate the record-changing cycle. As element 5| moves to position E, a pin 98, fixed to the base'plate, engages the. cam surface 99 on the lever |08 to pivot it into engagement with stop 99A whereby lever |08 is reset for a subsequent tripping operation.

Manual means are also provided for controlling the operation of the phonograph apparatus. This means consists of a rod |30 located beneath the base plate. At one end there is a turned-up end portion |3| which projects through an aperture in the base plate. On this end portion there is secured a control knob |32. By moving the knob, the rod |30 can be moved to either automatic, manual or reject positions as shown on the scale |35. The opposite end of the rod |30 has a turned-down end |36 which is disposed for movement within an enlarged aperture |40 provided inthe lever |05. The aperture |40 has a pair of oppositely facing control surfaces |4| and |42 disposed to be engaged by end |35 of rod |30.

When the knob |32 is set in the automatic position, the end |30 is disposed centrally within the aperture |40 in the position shown in Fig. 4 topermit free movement of the lever |05 under the control of the tone arm so that the trip mechanism can initiate a record-changing cycle.

When the knob |32 is moved to the manual position, the end |36 engages the wall |42 and prevents the tone arm from moving the lever |05 thereby to prevent the trip mechanism from operating.

If it is desired to prevent the playing of a certain record or to terminate the playing of a record prior to its completion, the knob |32 may be moved to the reject position whereupon the end |36 of rod 30 engages the wall |4| of aperture `|40 and moves the levers |05 and '|08 in the same manner as the tone arm to initiate a record-changing cycle.

The record-changing mechanism described hereinbefore operates to successively dropfone record after another to the turntable in the following fashion. To initiate the operation of the mechanism, a number of records are placed on the spindle I3 in such fashion that the records are supported on shoulder I4 of spindle 4I3 and on shelf 2'1 in the case of l-inch records or on` shelf 28 in the case of 12-inch records. Arecord 1s also placed on the turntable 2. For retain ward force on the stack. If the record support 26 is positioned to support lO-inch records, the tubular member 25 and its cam surface 25A are so positioned that the rod 29 is in its lowermost position; or if support 26 is rotated into a position tosupport lZ-inch records, the cam surface 25A is so positioned that rod 29 is in its uppermost position. Having otherwise prepared the machine for operation, the knob |32 is positioned in its automatic position whereby rod |30 vdoes not have any effect on the trip lever |85. The tone arm may then be moved to place the stylus in the initial playing groove of the record and the motor energized to rotate the turntable.

As the turntable rotates, tone arm I1 is guided toward the spindle by stylus I9 tracking the playing groove of the record until the stylus eventually enters the tripping groove of the record. As the tone arm moves toward the spindle, clutch effects a counterclockwise movement (Fig. 4) of lever |05 because of the frictional engagement between flanged collar I0i, friction members |02 and |03 and lever |05. However, in rotating in a counterclockwise direction, lever |05 engages trip lever |08 and pivots it toward pinion 54 and projection |I2, but because of the slow rate of movement of these levers, projection |I2 periodically engages surface I I5 on lever |08 and reverses the direction of rotation of the levers. revolution of the pinion and the turntable until the stylus |9 enters the tripping groove of the record. At that time the tone arm moves at a more rapid rate toward the spindle and in turn moves lever |05 at a more rapid rate toward the pinion 54. Lever |08 is in turn moved rapidly inwardly toward pinion 54'to such an extent that projection II2 may engage the shoulder I I6 on lever |08 to impart lateral movement to that lever. Since this lever is pivotally attached to control element 5|, this element also moves in a lateral plane to such an extent that the teeth of pinion 54 engage and drive rack 50.

Rack 50 is driven to the dotted-line position E and cam surface 6I engages pin 24 to move itupwardly into engagement with tone arm I1 thereby to elevate the tone arm with respect to the record. Also during this portion of the record-changing cycle, element 5I moves lever Il'I8l to such a position that stud 98 fixed to the base plate engages cam surface 99 on lever |08 and resets it into engagement with stud 99A whereby lever |08 is in position to be operated by lever |05 as the next record is played.

Further movement of control element '5I toward position E causes Wall surface 66 of aperture B5 to engage lever 1| thereby to rotate tubular member 23 and tone arm I1 until the tone arm reaches a position beyond the periphery of the record on the turntable.

At this time, pinion 54 engages the portion B of rack 58 thereby causing element 5| to rotate about pivot 51 to dotted-line position F at which time cam surface engages the end 30 of vrecord-ejecting lever 33 to rotate this lever and move record-ejector 35 laterally to move a record off the record-supporting shelf 21 in the case of 10-inch records or off shelf 28 in the case of 12- inch records. The records simultaneously move 01T shoulder I4 and drop along spindle I3`into This reversal occurs once during each 8 engagement with the record already on the turntable. `When cam surface 15 disengages from lever 33, spring returns lever 33 and recordejector 35 to their normal positions.

At this time, pinion 54 engages portion C of rack and moves element 5| toward the dotted-line position G whereupon arm 82 of lever 8| engages with pin 29 which is operated to its lowermost position when l-inch records are on the record support. Of course, if 12-inch records are on the record support, pin 29 is in its uppermost position and cannot be engaged by arm 82 of lever 8|. Assuming that the record support is positioned for 10-inch records, arm 83 of lever 8| moves into the path of movement of lever 1I which controls the horizontal movement of the tone arm. Thus as element 5| moves to position Gr, arm 83 of lever 8| engages and moves lever 1I to rotate the tone arm into a position over the initial playing groove of the record on the turntable. If lever 8| is not operated as in the case of 12-inch records, Wall surface 81 of aperture engages lever 1I to move tone arm I1 into a position over the initial playing groove of a 12-inch record.

At this time, pinion 54 engages the portion D of rack 50 to pivot element 5| about pivot 51 and back to its original full-line position. During previous portions of the cycle, the extension 62 of element 5| engages with pin 24 to retain tone arm I1 in its uppermost position, but as element 5| moves back to its rfull-line position, extension 62 moves out of engagement with pin 24 whereby cam surface 62A allows tone arm I1 to drop and engage stylus I9 in the initial playing groove of the record, When the element 5| assumes its full-line position, pinion 5t! and the breached portion 56 of rack 50 are adjacent one another and the change cycle is terminated.

If it is desired to control the operation of the record changer manually or if it is desired to reject a particular record, control knob |32 may be operated to the manual or reject positions as described hereinbefore to control the mechanism in the desired manner.

From the foregoing, it is evident that this invention provides a simplified control mechanism for automatic record changers, there being a single unitary change-cycle control member for elevatingthe tone arm, moving it beyond the periphery of the record on the turntable, operating the record-ejeeting mechanism and returning the tone arm into playing engagement with the new record. The cam surfaces are of the simplest possible form and the nature of the device is such that it may be manufactured to liberal tolerances thereby to reduce the cost of manufacture and the difiiculty of assembly and adjustment.

This mechanism has been described as a part of a drop-type record changer wherein the records are supported by the spindle and an auxillary peripheral support, but it is not intended that the invention shall be limited to use with this particular type of record-changing device, as it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the mechanism embraced by the invention is applicable to many forms of drop-type record changers such, for example, as those embodying only peripheral supports for the record or only a support adapted to be effective at the centering aperture of the records.

While there has been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as falln within the true spirit and scope of the invention` What is claimed is:

l. In an automatic phonograph,v a unitary change-cycle control lever including cam surfaces at one end thereof for lifting and lowering a tone arm control mechanism, a pair of stop members disposed on said end to engage a tone arm rotating mechanism, a movable stop member pivoted to said unitary control lever and movable over one of said members for' stopping the inward movement of a tone arm over the playing groove of a smallv record, cam` means on said unitary lever spaced thereon from said end for engaging with a record ejectingl means, a drive means at the other end of said, lever operable for longitudinally moving said lever to move one of said cam surfaces and one of said stop members in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechanism and rotate said tone arm rotating mechanism to move said tone arm outwardly from the record, means for' rotating said unitary lever after the first movement to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejectingl a record, means for longitudinally moving said unitary lever after the first rotation in a return direction to move another of said stop members and said movable stop member to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record respectively and for rotating said unitary lever into initial position to move another of said cam surfaces for lowering saidtone arm control mechanism, and a plurality ofguide surfaces on said lever for cooperating with said drive means and a fixed member to determine the path of movement of said lever.

2. In an automatic phonograph, a unitary change-cycle control lever including cam surfaces at one end thereof for lifting and lowering a tone arm control mechanism, a pair of stop members disposed on said end to engage a tone arm. rotating mechanism, -a movable stop member pivoted to said unitary control lever and movable over one of said members for stopping the inward movement of a tone arm over the playing groove of a small record, cam means on said unitary lever spaced thereon from said end for eng-aging with a record ejecting means, a drive means at the other end of said lever comprising a first portion operable for longitudinally moving said lever to move one of said cam surfaces and one of said stop members in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechanism and rotate said tone arm rotating mechanism to move said tone arm outwardly from the record, means associated with a second portion for rotating said unitary lever after the rst movement to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion for longitudinally moving said unitary lever in another direction to move another of said stop members and said movable stop member to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record respectively and a fourth portion for rotating said unitary lever into initial position to move another of said cam surfaces for lowering said tone arm control mechanism, and a plurality of guide surfaces on said lever for cooperating with said drive means and a fixed member to determine the path of movement of said lever.

3. In an automatic phonograph, an L.shaped unitary change-cycle control lever including cam surfaces atone end thereof for lifting and lowering a tone arm control mechanism, a pair of stop members disposed on said end to engage a tone arm rotating mechanism, a movable stop member pivoted to said unitary control lever and movable over one of said members for stopping the inward movement of a tone arm over the playing groove of a small record, cam means on said unitary lever spaced thereon from said end for engaging with a record ejecting means, a drive means at the other end of said lever comprising a first portion operablefor moving one of said cam surfaces and one of said stop members linearly in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechanism and rotate said tone arm rotating mechanism to move said tone `arm outwardly from the record, a second portion disposed at an angle with respect to said first portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said iirst portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in another direction to move another of said stop members and said movable stop member to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record respectively and a` fourth portion parallel to said second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in another direction to move another of -said cam surfaces for lowering said tone arm control mechanism, and a plurality of guide surfaces on said lever for cooperating' with said drive means and a fixed member to determine the path of movement of said lever. f

4. In an automatic phonograph, an L-shaped unitary change-cyclecontrollever including an extension at one end thereof; cam surfaces on said extension for lifting and lowering a tone arm control mechanism, a pair of stop members disposedon said end to 4engage a tone arm rotating mechanism for moving a tone arm outwardly from a record or inwardly over the playing groove of ,a large record, a lever pivoted to said unitary control lever andY movable over one of said members for stopping theinward movement of said tone arm` over the playing groove of a small record, cam 'means on said unitary lever spaced thereon' from said extension for engaging with a record ejecting means, la deformed gear at the other endv of'said lever comprising a first portion operablefor moving one of said cam surfaces'and'one of said stop members linearly in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechansm and rotate said tone arm rotating mechanism to move said'tone arm from the record, a second portion disposed at an angle of approximately degrees with respect to said rst portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam meansv with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said rst portion for moving said, unitary lever linearly in another direction to move another of said stop members and said lever to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record respectively and a fourth portion parallel to said secondV portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in another direction to move another of said'cam` surfaces for lowering said tone arm control mechanism, and a plurality of guide surfaces on said lever for cooper-ating with said gear and a xed 1member to determine the path of .movement of said lever.

' 5.*In. an automatic phonograph, an L-shaped unitary change-cycle control lever including an extension at one end thereof, cam surfaceson said extension for lifting and lowering a tone rarm control mechanism, an aperture formed in said end, the oppositely disposed walls of which are disposed to engage a tone arm rotating mechanism for moving a tone arm outwardly from a record or inwardly over the playing groove of a large record, a lever pivoted to said unitary control lever and movable over said aperture for stopping the inward movement of said tone arm over the playing groove of a small record, cam means on said unitary lever spaced thereon from said extension for engaging with a record ejecting means, a substantially rectangular gear at the other end of said lever compirsing a rst portion operable for moving one of said cam surfaces and one of said walls linearly in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechanism and rotate said tone arm rotating mechanism to move said tone arm from the record, a second portion disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said rst portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said first portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in another direction to move another of said walls and said lever to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record and a fourth portion parallel to said second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in another direction to move another of said cam surfaces for lowering said tone arm control mechanism,rand a plurality of guide surfaces on said lever for cooperating with said gear and a fixed member to determine the path of movement of said lever.

6. In an' automatic phonograph, an L-shaped unitary change-cycle control lever including an extension at one end thereof, turned down surfaces on said extension for lifting and lowering a tone arm control mechanism, an aperture formed in said end, the oppositely disposed walls of which are disposed to engage a tone arm rotatingv mechanism and move a tone arm outwardly from the record or inwardly over the playing groove of a large record, a lever pivoted adjacent said aperture and movable iover it for stopping the inward movement of said tone arm over the playing groove of a small record, cam means on said unitary lever spaced thereon from said extension for engaging with a record ejecting means,l a substantially rectangular internal gear at the other end of said lever comprising a first portion operable for moving one of said turned downl surfaces and one of said walls linearly in one direction to lift said tone arm control mechanism and rotate saidy tone arm rotating mechanism to move said tone arm from the record, a second portion disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said first portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said first portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in another direction to move another of said walls and said lever to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of a large or small record and a fourth portion parallel to said second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in anotherdirection to move another of arm'control mechanism, and a plurality of guide surfaces on said lever for cooperating with said gear anda fixed member to determine the path of movement of said lever.

7. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a rotating driving means including a projection, a tone arm, a record supporting means, a record ejecting means, a unitary change-cycle control lever including surfaces operatively associated with said tone arm for moving said tone arm into and out of engagement with a record on said turntable, cam means on said unitary lever operatively associated with said record ejecting means for ejecting Ia record from the record supporting means, an internal gear operatively associated with said driving means and in said lever adjacent said driving means and comprising a first portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in one direction to move one of said surfaces to raise said tone arm and to move another of said surfaces for swinging said tone arm outwardly from the record, a second portion disposed lat an angle of approximately degrees with respect to said rst portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said first portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in another direction to move said other surface to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of the record and a fourth portion parallel to said second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in another direction to move said one surface for lowering said tone arm onto the record, a trip member on said unitary'lever adjacent said projection, and a trip mechanism responsive to movement of said tone arm for actuating said trip member into operative engagement with said projection whereby said gear is caused operatively connected with said driving means to start a record change-cycle.

8. ln an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a rotating driving means including a projection, a tone arm, a record supporting means, a record ejecting means, a unitary change-cycle control lever including surfaces operatively associated with said tone arm for moving said tone arm into and out of engage-- ment with a record on said turntable, cam means on said unitary lever operatively associated with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record from the record supporting means, an internal gear operatively associated with said driving means and connected to said lever comprising a first portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in one direction to move one of said surfaces to raise said tone arm and to move another of said surfaces for swinging said tone arm outwardly from the record, a second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in the opposite direction to move said other surface to return said tone arm to the engagement with said projection whereby said gear is operatively connected with said driving means to start a record change-cycle.

9. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable. a continuously rotating driving means including a projection, a tone arm mechanism comprising lifting and rotating elements, a record supporting means spaced from said mechanism and including a record ejecting means, a unitary change-cycle control lever including surfaces spaced thereon for engaging said lifting and rotating elements for moving said tone arm into and out of engagement with a record on said turntable, cam means on said unitary lever spaced thereon for engaging said record ejecting means for ejecting a record from the record supporting means, an internal gear in said lever adjacent said driving means and comprising a nrst portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in one direction to move one of said surfaces to raise said tone arm and to move another of said surfaces for swinging said tone arm outwardly from the record, a second portion disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said rst portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in one direction to engage said cam means with said record ejecting means for ejecting a record, a third portion parallel to said rst portion for moving said unitary lever linearly in the opposite direction to move said other surface to return said tone arm to the initial playing groove of the record, a fourth portion parallel to said second portion for moving said unitary lever angularly in the opposite direction to move said one surface for lowering said tone arm onto the record and a breached portion for normally disengaging said internal gear and said driving means, a trip lever on said unitary lever adjacent said projection, and a trip mechanism responsive to movement of said tone arm for actuating said trip member into operative engagement with said projection whereby said gear is operatively connected with said driving means to start a record change-cycle.

10. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a rotating driving means including a projection, a tone arm having associated therewith lifting and rotating elements, a record supporting means spaced from said tone arm and including a record ejecting means, a pivoted unitary change cycle control lever including a portion positioned for pivotal engagement with said lifting and rotating elements to move said tone arm into and out of engagement with the record on said turntable, a cam means carried by said unitary lever and positioned for pivotal engagement with said record ejecting means to effect ejection of a record from said record supporting means, an internal gear dened marginally of an apertured portion of said lever adjacent said driving means and including a rst portion engageable by said driving means for linear displacement of said lever in one direction to eifeot camming of said tone arm arcuately outward from said record, a second gear portion disposed at approximately angularity to said first gear portion and engageable by said driving means to change the direction of said lever movement to effect camming of said record ejecting means and consequent record ejection, a third gear portion parallel to said i'lrst portion for linear displacement of said unitary lever in another direction to effect reverse camming of said tone arm to the initial playing groove of the record, and a fourth gear portion parallel to said second portion to eiect linear displacement of said lever in another direction and camming of said tone arm downwardly onto the record, a trip member on said lever adjacent the projection of said driving means, and a trip mechanism responsive to movement of said tone arm for actuating said trip member into operative engagement with said projection to effect operating engagement between said driving means and one of said marginally defined gear portions.

JOSEPH M. BAXTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

